The result is virtually the same from the world championships in Beijing a year ago, when De Grasse announced his arrival on the international stage. There he shared the world championship bronze medal podium with good friend and U.S. youngster Trayvon Bromell, while Bolt and Gatlin took the top two awards. A year later the third step of a major podium belongs exclusively to De Grasse.

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Following the race and realizing what he had done upon the official placing posted on the Olympic Stadium video board, De Grasse collapsed to his knees, clutching his face in disbelief and joy.

Draped in the maple leaf, De Grasse then went over to where his mother Beverley is seated. Holding hands, the mother and her Olympic medallist son exchanged a moment that will certainly melt hearts across Canada and the world.

At 21 years and 278 days old, De Grasse is the youngest medallist in the men’s 100m since 1984. That year in Los Angeles, Sam Graddy of the United States took 100m silver at the age of 20.